Improvement in operating railway switches



(120.) MES MJHICKMAN & HENRY STAU'FER.

improvement in Operating Railway Switches.

Patented Jan. 2, 1872;

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] UNITED TATES PATENT, OFFICE.

JAMES M. HIGKMAN, 0F RICHMOND, INDIANA, AND HENRY srAuFER, OF

CINCINNATI, OHIO. I

IMPROVEMENT IN OPERATING RAILWAY SWITCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,319, dated January 2, 1872.

To whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, J AM'ES M. HIOKMAN,

I of Richmond, Indiana, and HENRY STAUFER,

of Cincinnati, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Closing Railway Switches; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descripption of the same, reference being had to the drawing which accompanies this specification and forms a part of the same, and to the letters of reference which are marked thereon.

In the drawingwhich accompanies this specification, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the main track, switch, and Operative devices. Fig. 3 is a top view of the main track, the switch, and showing the movement of the rails in the dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a sectional end view, showing the position of the rails on the main track and upon the switch, and the devices for holding the switch open during the passage of railway trains.

The nature of our invention consists in devices by which, after the switch is opened by the operator, it is held open by the weight of the cars, the weight of which, by means of the flanges of the car-wheels, holds the switch open until the last truck passes over, when self-acting devices, which are herein fully described, close the switch until opened by the next train by the means of its operators. It further consists in the arrangement and combination of the revolving sh aft of the switch-stand, around the lower portion of which a chain is coiled which communicates a reciprocating motion to the switch-bar as the shaft is revolved right or left,

' opening or closing the switch, and permitting the operator to close it when the spring for self-closing should become inoperative from accident or other cause. It further consists in the employment of arms H and I, which, in combination, hold the switch open while the train is passing by means of the pressure-plate O resting upon the bearing points of the knees E E E, rigidly attached to the rock-shaft D, and operating the arm H, which is also rigidly attached to the rock-shaft D, and is on the opposite side of said shaft nearlyin a plane with said knees E E E, by which the switch is held open peremptorily until the train has passed.

To enable those skilled in the art to make describe the same.

In Fig. 1, A A represent therails of the main track of a common railway, while B B represent the rails of a switch or side track. a a a. a are cross-ties. D is a rock-shaft, corresponding approximately with the switch-rail in length, parallel with it, and situated outside I train, operating by the flanges of the wheels upon the pressure-plate G, depresses the bearing points of the knees E E E, and in a corresponding degree raises the arm H, which, on-

gaging the bar I at 2', holds the switch in place until the pressure of the wheels is removed from the pressure-plate G and the switch is closed and the main track restored td'its former position by the action of the spring G. The frame of' the switch-stand is represented by X X X, the upright shaft J being secured by proper bearings at its upper and lower ends,

and by means of the chain K, which is coiled around the lower of the same, operates the switch-bar, to which it is attached at each end. The top of the switch-stand is provided with a slotted semicircular frame, in which is inserted a horizontal arm or lever, L, which is secured rigidly to the shaft J' and serves to operate the same. M is a lever constructed. with a hinged joint, u, the pivoted portion of which is provided with a hook or pin, 0, which, when the lever N is raised, fits into the opening b of the arm L.

When the switch is closed and the main track in running order the arm L is in the position shown in the drawing, and the lever M, which is loose on the shaft J, is seized by the operator, carried to a point immediately above L, the lever N is raised, the point or pine is inserted in the hole b, and the two are carried around to the point N, by which the shaft J is turned, operating the switch-bar and opening the switch for the passage of the coming train. i

O is a foot-lever to be operated by the attendant who opens the Switch, and by means of a connecting-rod, m', and a vibrating catch,

n, the arm L is retained in position, holding the switch bar F, the frame I i in position, until the train, operating on the pressure-bar 0, holds the arm H in the recess i, in which it is rigidly held during the passage of the train, whether composed of few or many cars. When the last car passes the pressure-plate is relieved, the engagement of the arms I and H is severed, the spring G reacts to replace the main track, and the switch is closed. The pressure-plate G is attached to the cross-ties by any suitable device which will allow the inner edge a vertical motion and retain a position parallel with the rock-shaft D, and resting upon the points of the knees E E E.

In case of accident or any disability of the spring G, a reverse motion of the levers M and L, by means of the chain K, will restore the switch.

Attached to the lower portion of the semicircular frame X is a spring, 0, having a point or pin which fits into the lower portion ofvthe hole or opening I), and which serves to hold the arm L in its original position when not controlled by the operator.

Having thus fully described our said improvements, what we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The rock-shaft D provided with knees E E E, arm H, in combination with the switchbarF, chain K, and spring G, in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of levers M and L, the catch a, the rod m, and the foot-lever O, in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The arrangement and combination of the switch-stand as described, the switch-bar F, 

